A HEXHAM-based charity has used lockdown to complete a new website.

Gateway into the Community, based on St Mary’s Chare, Hexham, provides learning support, social and leisure services to people with special needs.

Development manager Jo Robinson was full of praise for the new-look website.

She said: "The website has gone live and it's really good.

"It's taken quite a while but it's actually been ideal having lockdown to work on it.

"It has all the new services on and a donate button to make it easier for people to support us."

The charity also has a new sensory room, which proved popular with service users. The room was funded with support from the Clothmakers Foundation, the Boshier Hinton Foundation, and the Morrisons Foundation.

Day service manager Sharyn Castleow added: "It's so important for members.

"We thought some of our members wouldn't be that into it, but they've really taken to it. It's been great for everyone."

While it has not been able to support members in the usual way during the coronavirus lockdown, Gateway has still been providing them with support and company.

Jo continued: "We've been supporting people remotely, and doing visits to people in the local area who might be quite isolated."